Life List

A “life list” is a list of things that you would like to accomplish in your lifetime. Working towards a goal gives direction, purpose, and meaning. Life is too short to live with regrets. Live a story worth retelling.

The reason why I created this life list is because it serves as my road map to feeling fulfilled. This list keeps me on track to make sure that I’m using my time and resources to get what I really want out of life.

“We all have two choices; we can make a living or we can design a life.” ~ Jim Rohn Tweet this.

My personal thoughts on having this list is not to just check every item off it. I’m digging deep to discover the core values behind each of these goals. By being mindful of the values from each goal, I can live life according to my personal values. So even if I don’t reach a goal I’ve set by a certain deadline, I’ll find happiness in every step of the journey in pursuit of my goal.

See the example below of what the underling values are in a few of my goals.

Back in 2008 my goal was to run a marathon. I woke up early in morning to exercise and run. Six months into training, I injured myself without enough time to heal before the race. I wasn’t that disappointed because I found enjoyment in the journey of training for the marathon because I was living according to my values by sticking to my commitment to exercise, train, and focused on my well-being. The following year I signed up for another race. The second time around I made sure to see a podiatrist, strengthen my leg muscles, learn new stretches, and train with a running group. After a minor setback the previous year, I completed my goal to run a full marathon in 2009. I’ve found fulfillment in every step of the way by living according to my values.

“In marathon running and in life, there are no such things as unrealistic goals, only unrealistic time frames.” ~ Carl Rundell

Below are several things I’d like to experience. This list is a continuous work in progress and will be ever evolving.

The List

Achieve fluency in Portuguese
Achieve fluency in Mandarin
Learn how to make pancit
Improve my sushi making skills ✓
Volunteer at a hospice
Ride a camel in the Sahara dessert
Visit the pyramids in Egypt
Attend a full moon party in Thailand
Attend a TED conferenceSwim with dolphins I no longer want to do this.Go bungee jumping This is something I no longer want to do.
See the Northern lights in a Scandinavian country
Volunteer in Africa
Climb Mt. Kilamanjaro ✓
Ride the Trans-Siberian train from Moscow to China
Visit Easter Island
Visit Australia
Visit Asia ✓
Visit Antarctica
Take a Virgin Galactic flight to space
Travel to over 100 countries
Hitchike a ship
Go scuba diving
Serve food at a soup kitchen
Drive from United States to Argentina
Celebrate Carnival in Brasil
Go on a NYC pizza tour ✓
Go to a Blues bar in Chicago ✓
Visit all 41 UNESCO world heritage sites in Italy
Learn how to play the song “The Girl from Ipenema” on a ukelele
Complete the seven day primitive living course of the Boulder outdoor survival school training
Complete the top down 16 mile hike in The Narrows of Zion National Park
Sleep in a capsule hotel in Japan
Crash a wedding
Participate in the Mongol Rally
Be a wwoof volunteer
House sit abroad ✓
Spend time with monks in a monastery
Do a fasting diet
Learn how to make ceviche ✓
Hike to El Mirador
Work in a cruise ship
Volunteer with Mercy Ships
Cycle across America from the west to east coast
Do a 10-day vipassana silent meditation retreat
Go star gazing ✓
Sleep in a hammock ✓Go camping ✓
Eat meal worms and scorpions ✓
Watch an annular eclipse ✓
See an amazing sunset (Cartagena) ✓
See a full moon over Foz de Iguacu ✓
Take a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon ✓
Run a marathon ✓
Run a half marathon ✓
Fly in a private jet ✓
Go skydiving ✓
Go para-sailing ✓
Go to the Winter Music Conference in Miami to see my favorite djs ✓
Visit Christ the Redeemer in Rio ✓
Hike to Macchu Picchu ✓Hike to The Lost City ✓
Graduate from college ✓
Turned a high school dream to be a dj into a business ✓
Be a party promoter ✓
DJ at a club in Las Vegas ✓
Attend the Tony Robbins Unleash The Power event and walk on fire ✓
Live in Las Vegas ✓
Volunteer to mentor homeless teens ✓
Start a dining group ✓
See the Mona Lisa in Paris ✓
Work in downtown Chicago ✓
Go to Legoland ✓
Go to San Diego ✓
Spend the day helping at a children’s hospital ✓
Drink absinthe ✓
Take a mud bath ✓Go to Burning Man Festival ✓
Visit Chichen Itza ✓
Take a volunteer vacation ✓
Go whale watching ✓
Climb a volcano ✓
Live in another country ✓
Do a bicycle tour ✓

In progress

Take a year long round the world trip
Achieve fluency in Spanish
Teach English abroad
Improve salsa dancing skills
Sail from Cartagena to Panama or vise versa (I had the chance to do this, but I put it on hold).
Ride a hot air balloon at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (10/14/12 update: I went to the festival, but I did not ride a balloon. I volunteered as chase crew.)
Live a minimal lifestyle to own less than 100 things

What would you put on your life list?

Create a list of dreams or goals you’d like to accomplish in your life. Write them down to remind you of what’s important so you can work towards them. When you write down your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them. List all the things you’d like to accomplish regardless of how small or big it may be. Try aiming for at least 100 things on your list. It’s not easy, but if you can write more that’s great. Design the lifestyle of your dreams and live it!

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim high and falling short, but in setting our aim to low, and achieving our mark” ~ Michelangelo

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